Neopoints banninated: eBay delisting all auctions for virtual property

A report from tech news site Slashdot reveals that Ebay is now de-listing all auctions for “virtual artifact” from the site. “Virtual artifacts” in this case includes currency, items, and accounts/characters.

If you folks are thinking that those too lazy to grind their own high level character in your standard MMO, and only those involved in third world farming are affected by this, keep in mind that even the relatively cute and harmless neopoint – used in the popular Neopets – is not exempt from this decision.

Speaking for eBay, Mr. Hani Durzy explains that the decision to pull these items was due to the “legal complexities” involved with virtual property. After much thought, the company felt that this was the proper course of action. This is “for the overall health of the marketplace.”

Moreover Durzy pointed out that the company is now just following through with a pre-existing policy. Their policy on digitally delivered goods states:

The seller must be the owner of the underlying intellectual property, or authorized to distribute it by the intellectual property owner.

Given the debatable nature of ownership of virtual property in online games, eBay has decided that for now, it is apt to remove the possibility for players to sell what might be the IP of other properties via eBay’s service.

We now wonder if this will mean less or more income opportunities for third-world farmers. Moreover, given the absence of eBay as an avenue for income, we wonder if smaller virtual businessmen will now be forced to turn to larger RMT entities.

For more information on eBay’s existing policy, you can scrutinize it via our read-link below.

A report from tech news site Slashdot reveals that Ebay is now de-listing all auctions for “virtual artifact” from the site. “Virtual artifacts” in this case includes currency, items, and accounts/characters.

If you folks are thinking that those too lazy to grind their own high level character in your standard MMO, and only those involved in third world farming are affected by this, keep in mind that even the relatively cute and harmless neopoint – used in the popular Neopets – is not exempt from this decision.

Speaking for eBay, Mr. Hani Durzy explains that the decision to pull these items was due to the “legal complexities” involved with virtual property. After much thought, the company felt that this was the proper course of action. This is “for the overall health of the marketplace.”

Moreover Durzy pointed out that the company is now just following through with a pre-existing policy. Their policy on digitally delivered goods states:

The seller must be the owner of the underlying intellectual property, or authorized to distribute it by the intellectual property owner.

Given the debatable nature of ownership of virtual property in online games, eBay has decided that for now, it is apt to remove the possibility for players to sell what might be the IP of other properties via eBay’s service.

We now wonder if this will mean less or more income opportunities for third-world farmers. Moreover, given the absence of eBay as an avenue for income, we wonder if smaller virtual businessmen will now be forced to turn to larger RMT entities.

For more information on eBay’s existing policy, you can scrutinize it via our read-link below.